RACING NOTES AND FORM PROSPECTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 46, 16 October 1931, Page 5

RACING NOTES AND FORM PROSPECTS

(Special to the "Posfc" by the Judge)

DARGAVILLE PROSPECTS

The annual meeting of the Dargaville Racing Club, to be held at Avondale on Saturday and Monday next, will see fair sized fields in opposition For Saturday there are a eouple of small fields, but the opening event drew no less than 33 acceptors.^ This is the Maiden Handicap, and it indicates just how many non-winners there are on the threshold of a more or less brilliant eareer on the turf. Unless five drop out, the Maiden event will be ruli in two divisions. That is bad enough, but it is perhaps better 'than seeing a field of 28 (or a couple less) all jammed in the one race. Form. speaks strongly in. favour of Heremia, Great Emblem, Tarporley, Whakapara, Desert Star, Amber Link, Lady Musk, Exeella Tea, Marchette, Exagg:eration and Daycoma. If not run in divisions, Heremia, Great Emblem, Whakapara and Lady Musk will be the prime fancies. There are some speedy hacks engaged in the Tokatoka Hack, notably Ganpat, Speedmint (who would appreeiate a little farther to travel), Marechal, Huntingdon, Princess Bede, Union, Hit the Deck, Hollyholm, Captain Dollar and Bronze Tray. Gn Ellerslie running, Hollyholm, with a better marble than he drew last week, hsould be able to hold his own with Marechal who won so promisingly at the recent Avondale, meeting)- and the heavily burdened Ganpat. The latter is a solid sort of customer, well up to weight if he is not run off his feet early. There are only half a dozen in the Kaihu Hack Hurdles, and after the debut made by Ruffles at Ellerslie, one naturally asks what is to beat him? He gave a -great exhibition of fencing on that occasion, reminiscent of Beau Cavalier and Prince Lu at their best, and his fourth was a direct pointer to his next appearance over the battens. Daylight has not raced for some time, and Dai'k Prince may be bothered by the pace that will be set. Nfeil has shown promise too, and Production is another novice that may run well. Clontarf Bill has yet to prove himself. Ruffles, Neil and Dark Prince are preferred. None of the two-year-olds engaged in the Nursery Handicap have been placed in their efforts to date, but among those that have proved they have speed are Closing Time, Tea Trader, Foreign Money, Lady Whirlwind and Hispania. A good word is to be said for Holly Lu and Gigantic, who have yet to be seen in puhlic. The Tea Trader-Lady Whirlwind bracket, Foreign Money and Closing Time read best. The field for the Dargaville Cup is a remarkably even one, for there does no tappear to be anything outstanding among the ten acceptors. Royal Doulton has been off the scene for a long time, yet she ^ometimes races well fresh. 3She won this event three years back, and on the 'score of weight she cannot complain. Sir Mond's last outing was a deadheat with Puriri Park at Ellerslie last week at the end of a mile, and this was a fine effort, for the big Seremond gelding was not thoroughly tuned up. If Gray takes the ride Sir Mond may he the favourite, for he has won over the distance on the country circuit. Grand Tea easily defeated the field opposed to him in the handicap the second day of the Avondale meeting, but there was plenty of mud about and in those conditions he is well at home. He galloped brilliantly on Tuesday. He will probably he installed favourite. True Blood will be favoured by a soft track, but will not be wanted otherwise. Little. Doubt won the Avondale Cup like a good one. There was no fluke about that win, for he came at the right end and was travelling faster than anything else at the finish. Both days at Ellerslie Little Doubt went solid races, and that form places him well among the list of possibles for Saturday. His mile gallop last Tuesday was a brilliant one. Maori Boy will not he seen at his best if the track hardens up, as it promises to do, while at the same time he is nicely placed if the track is all right. Flying Prince is a possibility, even although the last race would suit him more. Prince of Orange took on the open mile the last day at Ellerslie, and as he finished close up after being tailed off at the half mile this can be taken as an indication that he has more than an outside chance. Protomint is a good hack, and with this light impost and a good rider he promises to make it decidedly interesting. Catoma, too, is another good hack, for he ran Standfast to half a head at Ellerslie over a mile, and what is more., he should have won. Little Doubt, Sir Mond, Grand Tea and Protomint are likely to be the most fancied in that order. A very small field will contest the sprint, the Avoca Handicap, seven only being paid for. Puriri Park was very consistent at the Avondale and Auckland meetings, and although in the past he has not been able to score among the sprinters, this is not an overstrong field. Gold Money showed a flash of form the second day at Avondale, but she prefers the soft going. High Comedy will be assisted by the small field, and surely on this occasion he will break it for a win.

His owner has had a poor run to date this term, after apparently being in for an excellent season. Lucy Rose may not measure up to this class now, unless it is very heavy ground, and Tetrachate must be nearly ready now for this task. Tradesman spreadeagled a sprint field at Te Rapa in June, his last appearance, and he cannot be ruled out on this occasion, for there is no doubt as to his speed. Full Measure is a possibility, but he' does not appear to have made the progress thaf his winter racing suggested. They are an even lot with High Comedy, Puriri Park and Tetrachate the best of them. There are several good hack milers in the Awakino Handicap, and it looks as if the money-getters will corrie from near the top of the list. Karangapai went well in his last race at Ellerslie, and Protomint, too, but the latter appears to have his chance in the Cup contest. Claremore may assist his new owner to get some of his purchase money back right away, and Emancipation reads very well. Trishna is not too reliable, but he is well placed. Catchem, Te Money, Stonehenge and Dominican are respected, but perhaps the betting will

favour Emancipation, Karangapai, and Te Money. The final event on Saturday is the Hobson Handicap, and here the well treated Standfast appears to have a royal chance, for he is racing over what these days seems to be his best distance, one mile. Royal Artist has to give him 41b. Mosque is improving and working nicely, and Flying Prince has run some good races of late. If. reserved for this he would be a real dangerous opponent to Stand fast. Clopton will appreciate it if he gets a dry track and will go a good race. Standfast, Flying Prince and Clopton make most appeal.